Springy adjustable seating structure



' NOV- 30, 1948. GH M 2,454,912

SPRINGY ADJUSTABLE SEATING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. so, 1944 s Shoots-Shoot 1 Filed on. so, 1944 Nov. 30,1948. M. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,454,912

SPRINGY ADJUSTABLE SEATING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Shut 2 I I five/226%? 4 /7a/z'0/z 0/ m file/21y az/z u w M Nov. 30, 1948.

Filed Oct. :50; 1944 M. M. CUNNINGHAM SPRING! ADJUSTABLE SEATING STRUCTURE 3 Shoots-Shoot 3 1 07a]? (1 2/2211? an j N, Q I

Patented Nov. 30, 1948 SPRIN GY ADJUSTABLE SEATING STRUCTURE Marion Morgan Cunningham, South Bend, Ind.,

' assign'or to Mishawaka Rubber and Woolen Manufacturing Company, Mishawaka, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 30, 1944, Serial No. 560,978

8 A Claims. 1

My invention relates to seating structures, such as chairs, davenports, and the like and has reference more particularly to seat bottoms and seat backs with springy marginal frames and the mounting thereof in a manner to afiord unusual flexibility and comfort. One particular field in which the invention may be used advantageously is in transportation seating, as for example, in lounge cars or other types of railway equipment.

This improvement involves cushion supports or decks similar to those heretofore described in my application Serial No. 347,627, fl1ed.July 26, 1940 on which Patent No. 2,371,954 was granted March 20, 1945, and wherein a fabric deck or cushion backing is stretched on a. marginal frame of the same shape or contour as the cushion which it supports, the present application being a continuation in part of my aforesaid application Serial No. 347,627. It is also a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 377,610 filed February 6, 1941 which was voluntarily abandoned on November 8, 1944.

According to my present invention the marginal metal frames of the cushion supports are made of a flat spring steel similar to that used in leaf springs. As a result these cushion supports have a degree of flexibility and resiliency dependent upon the thickness andthe springiness of the steel frames.

The cushion support for the seat bottom of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention is connected at its rear to the lower end of the cushion support of the seat back by means of a springy L mernber or a hinge arrangement, or in other similar manner, so that some degree of hinging action is provided. The front of the seat bottom is mounted, preferably pivotally, upon the front portion of the chair frame, as for example, on a tubular steel or other cross membet, and the seat back support which supports the rear end of the seat bottom, is mounted, also preferably pivotally, on the chair frame at corresponding points on opposite sides part way up the seat back, these seat bottom and seat back connections with the chair frame being made directly to the springy marginal frames of the seat bottom and seat back.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved light-weight resilient seat structure; to simplify and minimize the cost of seating structures; to insure a high degree of flexibilityand maximum comfort; to provide a seat or cushion mounting arrangement whichis adaptable to a large variety of single and multiple unitseating equipment; and to procure individualized springing of each member of multiple seats which are mounted upon the same frame; these and other objects being'accomplished as pointed out hereinafter and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention, with portions broken away to show details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the seat and back cushion supports of the Fig. 1 structure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mounting of the seat bottom support on the cross member of the chair frame;

Fig. 4 is asectional view of the arm rest taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of a multiple unit seat involving my invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, with the nearest side frame removed. of a modified form of my chair construction with an adjustable back;

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of another form of chair built in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 8 is a side view ofthe chair shown in Fig.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a form'of hinge connection that may be employed between the seat bottom support and seat back support;

Fig. 10 is a side view of another modified form of chair with parts broken away and showing an adjustable seat bottom chair constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the chair of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, the frame of the chair shown in Fig. 1 is designated by the reference numeral l0 and is of tubular steel construction consisting of somewhat rectangular shaped side frames il each with arm rests I2 thereon. These side frames H are joined together by a front cross member i3, a rear cross member l4 and a brace l5 located centrally and connecting the portions of the side frames ii at the bottom.

The seat cushion I6 is mounted on aseat bottom l1 and the back cushion i8 is mounted on a seat back IS. The seat bottom 11 and seat back l9 are joined together by means of an angular strip 20 of spring steel with a rounded bend 2i between the flanges 22 thereof to afford increased flexibility.

The seat base or bottom I! consists of two plies of rubberized fabric 23 and 24 mounted and stretched taut upon a surrounding endless marginal steel frame 25 which is made of flat spring so that it isspringy in a direction normal to the plane of the seat bottom. The two tautly stretched plies of rubberized fabric 23 and 24 are bonded together by adhesive or in other desired manner throughout the area bounded by the steel frame 25 and said plies are stitched together at both sides of the steel frame along the inner and outer edges thereof as shown at 25 and 21, and thereafter trimmed off slightly beyond the outer stitching 21 so that a marginal edge 28 remains all around said seat base ll, all as disclosed in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 347,627 of Patent 2,371,954. The back support i9 is of the same type of construction with rubberized fabric plies 29 and 30 mounted on a spring steel frame 3| which may be more spring than that of the seat bottom, if desired.

The seat and back cushions l6 and i8 respec tively are attached to the seat base and back supports i7 and is respectively by cementing or in some other appropriate manner and both may be suitably upholstered. The seat base I! and back support i9 are connected in proper angular relation by the angular strip 28, the flanges 22 of which are secured respectively to the frames 25 and Si by means of screws 32. The front or free end of the seat base i! is mounted on the front cross member 53 of the chair frame 40 by means of loop members 33 such as illustrated in Fig. 3 in detail. These loop members 33 are located at opposite sides of the seat base 11 and are conthereto any suitable means such as rivets 34 extending through the doubled together attaching arms 35 and 35 of the loop members 33 and through the fabric covered frame 25 and headed over washers 37 as shown in Fig. 3. This type of mounting permits some degree of rotation of the seat bottom ll upon the front cross member 13, and requires a corresponding hinging or flexing action in the angular strip 20,. to which the rear of the seat base I l is attached, when the seat base H is flexed downwardly in the direction of its springiness by pressure thereupon such as when a. person is sitting on the cushion A similar mounting is provided for the back support I9 at each sidethereof by means of a loop member 38 in engagement with the tubular rear cross member i 4 of the chair frame ID. This mounting also permits a slight rotation of the loop members 38 upon the rear cross member it. Thus, when pressure is applied against the upper portion of the back cushion 18, the upper portion of the back support 19 will yield or flex in accordance with pressure thereupon owing to the springy character of the frame 3| of the said back support l9 and the location of the mountings 38 below the middle of the back.

Thus, as a person sits in a seat constructed in accordance with this invention, theweight upon the seat portion causes the springy seat base ll to yield somewhat and provides a comfortable resiliency. Likewise the back support 19 yields as the occupant of the chair leans against the back cushion I8 and it is to be noted that the upper portion of said back support 19, which is entire- 1y free and not secured to the frame I not the chair, will yield somewhat under pressure when the occupant leans back thereagainst and will resume normal position when the upon is released.

Arm rests l2 ofany desired form may be propressure therevided, preferably of an upholstered spongy rubber similar to that of the cushions l6 and] 8. For this purposes. plate 39 maybe welded to-the un-' derside oi the top portion of each side frame II and a finish plate 48 may be attached to the under side thereof and provided with an upturned flange ll along the outer side. The sponge rubber arm rest 12 is molded to fit on this-composite plate structure 39,48 and is formed with a recess to accommodate the tube portion H and secured in place by cementing or in other convenient manner.

Fig. 5 shows a multiple unit seat such as a davenport which involves substantially the same construction as above described except that it' is of greater width for multiple seating. This davenport has the side frames 42 connected by a rear cross member 43, a front cross member 44 and a bottom brace 45. Three individual seat units, each comprising a seat portion 46 each individually connected at its rear by a springy angle plate 41 (like the angle plate 20 of Fig. 1) to the lower end of a companion back portion 48. are mounted on the front cross member 44 and rear cross member 43 in the same manner as the individual seat unit shown in Fig. 1. By virtue of the individual hinging of each of the seat units, each seat 46 and back 48 flexes individually of the other seat units 6, 48 in accordance with the pressure and seating position of the persons sitting on the respective portions of a sofa or davenport constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of seat structure especially adapted for use in railroad coaches, busses and other commercial transportation units. In this construction the seat base 49 is mounted in the same manner as the seat base 11 in Fig. 1 by means of loop members 50 on a front cross member 5!. The back support 52 is mounted by means of similar loop member 53 on a rear cross member 54. Said rear cross member '54 is not rigidly mounted upon the chair frame, but is supported by corresponding sets of notches 55 of the opposite side member 56 of the chair frame. Thus the degree of inclination of the seat back may be regulated at willby adjusting the rear cross member 54 in different notches 55.

The seat base 49 and the back support 52 may be joined together by means of a resilient angle strip similar to the angle strip 20 shown in Fig. 2, if desired, but preferably a piano type hinge 51 is used instead.v This type of seat is especially advantageous for use in commercial passenger transportation where it is desirable to afford adjustment of the seats to upright, reclining or other positions in order to suit the individual preferences of the passenger.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified form or chair structure in which the back support 58 and the seat base 59 are united by means of a resilient angle plate 60 and mounted directly on a simple frame consisting of two corresponding sides BI and 62, connected by a bottom cross brace 63. The tops of the front upright less 64 of the frames GI and 62 are secured to the side portions of the springy marginal frame of the seat base 59 and the rear upri ht legs 65 are secured to the side portiolgs of the springy marginal frame of the seat back 5 v Fig. 9 shows a detail of a modified form of connection that may be employed for hingedly connecting the rear edge of the seat base to the lower edge of the seat back. In this connection the fabric layers 23 and 2| of the seat bottom are a continuation respectively ofthe fabric plies 29 and 30 of the seat back with a sufficient width -65 of the two ply fabric between the respective marginal frames 25' and Si of the seat bottom and seat back to serve as a hinge as shown. In other respects, the construction of this type of chair would correspond to the construction of the chairs shown in the previous figures of the drawings.

In Figs. and 11 a further modification of my invention is shown, wherein the seat bottom is adjustable instead of the seat back.-

In this structure of Figs. 10 and 11 two side frame members 61, which'may be 'wood panels, are secured together by cross members 58, 69 and It in proper spaced relation to accommodate the chair bottom H and the chair back I2 therebetween. The chair back 12 comprises a fabric back deck 19 with marginal spring-steel frame 3| therearound, like the seat back of Figs. 1 and 2, and has an upholstered cushion 13 secured to the front thereof.

Each opposite side portion of the frame 3| of the seat back 12 has a similar hinge lug H secured thereto part way up the back and extending forwardly therefrom along the inner face of the respective side frame 61 and pivoted thereto as at 15.

The chair bottom Ii likewise comprises a fabric seat deck H with marginal spring steel frame therearound, like the seat bottom of Figs. 1 and 2,

and has an upholstered cushion 18 secured thereto. At the rear this chair bottom issuspe'nded from the lower end of the chair back 12 by hinges 11 attached to the frames 3i and 25 of the chair back and chair bottom respectively. The cross member 69 which extends between the side frames 61 and loosely supports the chair bottomnear the front andthe cross member 'lll which extends between the side frames 61 at the lower end of the chair back 12 serves as a back stop to limit rearward movement of the chair bottom and the lower end of the chair back.

Thus the chair back swings on the pivots I5 and the chair bottom rests on the cross member 69, these being the only points of support of the combined chair back and bottom.

The chair bottom ll may, if desired, be provided with no interlocking engagement with the cross member 69 for adjustment and thus be merely slidably supported on the cross member 89 but I prefer to provide on the underside of the seat bottom at each side thereof a rack member 18 to engage thetop edge of the cross member and thereby permit adjusting and holding the seat bottom H at various positions on the bar =69. When adjusted to the extreme forward position it swings the lower end of the back 12 forwardly therewith and provides a reclining position whereas when adjusted to the extreme rear position wherein the hinged connection abuts against the cross member 10, it affords an upright sitting position.

These racks are secured respectively to the oppcsite side lengths of the bottom spring steel frame 25 and have a suflicient rocking engagement on the upper edge of the cross member 69 so that this adjustable connection does not interfere with the flexing of these side lengths of the frame 25 under the weight of the chair occupant.

The frame 25 of the chair bottom II is accordingly unsupported except at the rear hinges I1 and at the cross member 69 and being of flat spring steel flexes under load at the unsupported places and contributes added resiliency to the chair bottom. Also the frame 3| of the chair back is'unsupported only at the side pivots l5 and held against tipping by the hinge connection 11 with the bottom 1| or by the cross member Ill in the upright sitting position and this frame likewise being of flat spring steel flexes under-pressure against the seat back, especially above the pivots l5 and contributes greatly to the ease and comfort of the occupant of the chair.

While I haveshown and described my invention \in a preferred form I am aware that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is to bedetermined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a seating structure of the. class described the combination of a supporting frame having mounted thereon two seat elements one of which is an upwardly extending seat back and the other of which is a seat bottom hinged to the lower end of the seat back and extending forwardly therefrom, at least one of said elements comprising a fabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding fiat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying flatwise in the plane of the fabric panel, said bar being of such width that it is substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to said plane and said supporting frame being connected with said element solely at lateral marginal locations remote from the hinge connection between the two elements.

2. In a seating structure of the class described the combination of an upwardly extending seat back, a seat bottom hinged .to the lower end of the seat back and extending forwardly therefrom, and a supporting frame connected with said back and with said bottom solely at lateral marginal places thereof remote from said hinge, said seat back and seat bottom each being an individual assembly composed of a fabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding flat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying fiatwise in the plane of the fabric panel and said bar being of such width that it is substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to said plane.

3. In a seating structure of the class described the combination of three independent individual assemblies'joined together in associated cooperative relation, two of the assemblies being a seat back and a seat bottom respectively and each comprising a fabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding fiat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying flatwise in the plane of the fabric panel, said bar being of such width that it is substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to the, plane of the fabric panel and said other assembly being a supporting framefor said seat back and said seat bottom, said seat bottom and said seat back being connected togetherssolely at their respective rear and lower ends and said supporting frame being connected with said seat bottom and seat back solely at side marginal places thereof remote from their aforesaid rear and lower end connec tion.

4. In a seating structure of the class described the combination of three independent individual assemblies joined together in associated cooperative relation, two of the assemblies being a seat back and a seat bottom respectively and each comprising afabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding fiat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying flatwise in the plane of the fabric panel, said bar being of such width that it is substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to the plane of the fabric panel and said other assembly being a supporting frame for said seat back and said seat bottom, said seat bottom and said seat back being connectedto'gether solely at their respective rear and lower ends and saidsupporting frame being connected with said seat bottom and seat back solely at side marginal places thereof remote from.

, their aforesaid rear and lower end connection,

the connection of the said supporting frame with one oisaid other two independent individual as-- semblies being a pivotal connection and with the other of the said-two assemblies being an adjustable connection whereby that assembly is .mova'ble forwardly and rearwardly to optional positions 'on the supporting frame.

5. In a seating structure of the class described the combination of three independent individual assemblies Joined together inassociated cooperative relation, roof the assemblies being a seat back and a seat bottom respectively and each comprising a fabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding flat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around.

and lying ilatwise in the plane of the fabric panel.

. Y 8 ends and said supporting frame being connected with said seat bottom and seat back solely at side mai'ginal places thereof remote from their aforesaid rear and lower end connection.

7. In a seat structure, a supporting framework including laterally spaced upright side members, aseat base and a seat back base, said seat base being supported at its front between saiduprigbt sidemembers and Joined at its rear to the lower end 'of .the seatback base for relative pivotal movement thereof, said seat back base being supported between said uprlghtside members at a locality intermediate its upper and lower ends, and said seat base and seat back base each comprising a fabric panel tautly stretched in a surrounding flat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying flatwise in the plane ofthe fabric panel frames at the opposite lateral margins of the seat base and seat back base being free to yield'in leaf spring manner throughout the greater portion or theirlength.

said bar being of such width that it is substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to the plane of the fabric panel and said other-assembly being a supporting frame for said, seat back. and said seat bottom, said seat bottom and said seat back being connected together solely at their respective rear and lower ends and said supporting frame being connected with said seat bottom and seat backsolely at side marginal; places thereof remote from their aforesaid rear and-lower end connection, the

"connection of the supporting frame" with at least one of said other two'independent individual assemblies being a rack connection whereby that assembly is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly on the supporting frame.

6. In a multiple seatlngstructure of the class described the combination of a supporting frame comprising two frame ends with a front stretcher and a rear stretcherextending therebetween and holding said frame ends in separated relation, and a plurality of separate seat backs interposed 8. In a seat structure, a supportingframework including laterally spaced upright side members,

a seat base .and a seat back base. said seat base being fulcrumed at its front between said upright side members and joined at its rear to the lower prising a fabric panel tautiy stretched in a sur-. rounding flat marginal frameconsisting of a sprlngy flat bar extending continuously aroimd and lying flatwise in the plane of the fabric panel,

- said bar being 61 such width that it is substandaily rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and resiliently bendable transversely.

to said plane and the portions of each of said marginal frames at the opposite lateral margins of the seat base and seat back base being free to yield in 'leaf spring manner throughout the greater portion of their length.

between said frame ends and each supported 1 solely by the rear stretcher, and each seat back having a seat bottom connected to and extending forwardly from the lower end thereof and supported at its forward end by the front stretcher, each seat back and seat bottom comprising afabric panel tautly stretched on a surrounding fiat marginal frame consisting of a springy flat bar extending continuously around and lying flatwise in the plane of the fabric panel, said bar being of such width that itis substantially rigid and unyielding in the plane of the fabric panel and relatively thin and resiliently bendable transversely to the plane of the fabric panel and said other assembly being a supporting frame for said seat back andsaid seat bottom, said seat MARION MORGAN commoners.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED s'ra'ras'ra'mn'rs Number Name Date 169,138 Borgfeldt Oct. 26, 1875 326,241 Preston .1.... Sept. 15, 1885, 724,583 1 Jones Apr. 7, 1903 938,172 Schulz Oct. 26, 1909 1,187,580 Webb .4... June 20, 1916* 2,089,818 Terker Aug. 10, 1937 2,130,022 Oermann Sept. 13, 1938 7 2,263,450 Anderson Nov. 18, 194i 2,293,323 Viall, Sr., et al Aug. 18, 1942 2,303,308 McArthur Nov. 24, 1942 2,371,954 Cunningham Mar. 20, 19 45 FOREIGN PA'I'ENTS Number Country Date 43,113 France Dec. 6, 1933 (Addition to No. 676,274) 555,024 Germany ,'Nov. 9, 1932 876,274 France Nov. 28, 1929 

